Bait-moving device.



No. 788,047. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905. 0. HOLZ &; P. HAERRY.

BAIT MGVING DEVICE.l

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 31, 1904.

:NTTED STATES OTTO HOLZ AND PAUL HAERRY,

Patented April 25, 1905.

OF SOHENEOTADY, NEW YORK.

BAlT-NIOVING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,047, dated April25, 1905.

Application iiled October 31, 1904. Serial No. 230,689.

To [all 'wh/mt it muy concern.'

Be it known that we, OTTO HOLZ and PAUL HAERRY, citizens of the UnitedStates, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bait-Moving Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention comprises a bait-moving device for fishing purposes. Theordinary float as now constructed is incapable of moving baitautomatically; and the object of our device is to overcome thisobjection.

Another object of our invention is to continually keep live, dead, orartificial bait moving when in the water. Heretofore in still7 fishing'it has been customary to keep pulling the line in one direction or theother to attract the fish. Thisis objectionable, as it requires constantattention on the part 0f the user. By our improved device the bait ismoved automaticallyY without pulling on the line. This is performed by asuitable motor to which the bait is attached. Devices have beenconstructed with the motor mechanism inside of the balt. This isobjectionable for certain reasons.

A further object of our invention is to place the motor mechanism formoving' thc bait outside of the same.

The float comprises a casing in which is mounted a stored-up-energydevice or motor. The stored-up-energy device or motor may consist of aflat coiled spring which is incased in a drum, the active end of saidspring' being secured to 'a shaft. In working relation to the shaft is asuitable gearing. A main driven shaft which is journaled in the casingis provided with a stop device consisting of a ratchet-wheel which isunder the control of ball-carrying levers, which permit the main shaftto revolve. Then the float is placed in the water, the ball-carryinglevers are raised, due to their buoyancy, and disengage the fiattenedteeth of the levers in engagement with the ratchet-teeth, allowing` theshaft to rotate. If the float is withdrawn from the water, the weight ofthe ball-carrying levers will bring' the flattened teeth into engagementwith the ratchet, thereby arrestingl its further rotation. The extremelower end of the shaft acts as the bait-suspend ing means, and securedto the shaft in proximity to the means a retarding device is mounted,which tends to limit the rotation of the shaft when in operation.

To this end our invention consists of a float associated with a motor ofany suitable character, either mechanical or electrical, which mayreceive energy from an outside source. The function of theI motor is toagitate the bait directly or indirectly.

ln the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a vertical section of a Heat, showing the motive deviceinclosed therein and its cooperating parts; and Fig. 2 is a detail viewon line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the stop mechanism or means for releasingthe motor.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the float 1 comprises a two-part casing, theupper part of which is the cap 2, forming aremovable cover, which isscrewed onto a shell 3. The upper part of the shell is provided with athreaded portion 4, with which the cap 2 engages. In the `lioat is aspring-motor 5, which comprises a flat coiled spring contained in thedrum 6 and attached at its active end to a shaft 7. The shaft isprovided at its end with a key 8, which is accessible. by removing thecap 2, for winding up the spring. Formed on the drum 6 is a gear 9,which meshes with a pinion 10, having a shaft 11, on the end of which isanother pinion, 12, meshing with a gear 13. The gear 13 is secured to ashaft 14, and shafts 7, 11, and 14 are iournaled in bearings 15, 16, and17, the former two being' in the upper portion of the shell and thelatter in the lower portion thereof. The shaft 14C passes through theshell at its lower end and is provided with a ratchet-wheel 18 and aretarding device 19, which consists of a fan that keeps down the speedof the motor. At the extreme end of the shaft 14 an eye 2O is formed, towhich is secured a bait-suspending wire, line, or other means 21.Mounted on the sides of the shell 3 are two bearings 29., and mounted toturn therein is a pair of ball-carrying levers 23, having' attened teeth2,4 engaging the ratchetwheel 18, as shown in Fig. Q, to prevent the 100coiled spring in the drum 6 from unwinding until it is in condition forfishing-that is, until the iioat has been lowered into the water. Thecap 2 is provided with a small turnbuckle Q5, to which is secured theVVfishingline 26.

The operation of our device is as follows: After the bait has beensecured in the desired manner the cap 2 is removed, allowing free accessto the cap for winding up the motor. The motor having been wound up andthe cap screwed into place, the floatis then lowered into the water.When the float comes in contact therewith, the ball-carrying levers areraised by their buoyancy and the motor is allowed to rotate, due to thefact that the teeth are disengaged from the ratchet-wheel. When theshaft is rotating, it turns the bait.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes we havedescribed the principle of operation of our invention, together with theapparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof; but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown isonly illustrative and that the invention can be carried out byequivalent means.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

l. ln a iishing device, the combination of a bait-suspending' line, anda motor operatively related to said line for producing motion thereof.

2. A bait-moving device, comprising the combination of a float, abaitsuspending means connected to said fioat, and a motor.

3. A bait-moving device, comprising the combination of a float, a motor,and means outside of the ioat for controlling the movements of themotor.

4. A bait-moving device, comprising the combination of a iioat, a motor,a device for limiting the rotation of the motor, and automatic means forstarting and stopping the motor.

5. A bait-moving device, comprising the combination of a iioat, a motor,and a retarding device for the motor.

6. A bait-moving device, comprising the combination of a float, a motor,and a means to which the bait is suspended under the control of themotor.

7. A bait-moving device, comprising the combination of a float, a motor,a means to which the bait is suspended, and automatic means forcontrolling the operation of the motor.

8. In a bait device, the combination of a oat, a motor, gearingtherefor, a shaft, and a bait-suspendingI means attached thereto.

9. 1n abait device, the combination of a float, a motor, gearingtherefor, a shaft, and a retarding meansV attached to said shaft.

l0. In a bait device, the combination of a float, a motor, and means forstarting said motor.

11. In a bait device, the combination of a two-part oat, a removablecap, a motor, and means for controlling said motor.

12. ln a bait device, the combination of a ioat, a motor, and automaticmeans for starting' or stopping the motor.

1n witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 28th day ofOctober, .1904.

OTTO HOLZ. PAUL HAERRY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WILLIAMS, Jr., ELNATHAN E. BRIGGs.

